Yiddish-Deitsch manuscript, regulations of the Shocher Tov Society, for financial support for those conscripted for army service and draftees. Signed by the city rabbi, Rabbi Azriel Hildesheimer, the community dayanim, Rabbi Wolf Austerlitz and Rabbi Gumfreich Bontzalo, and many signatures of community leaders and community honoraries. Eisenstadt, Cheshvan 1853. On the reverse side of the leaf is a protocol of a meeting of the community committee at which new community tax rates were determined for support of those conscripted for army service and draftees, with signatures of Rabbi Azriel Hildesheimer, Rabbi Wolf Austerlitz and others. Eisenstadt, Shevat 1854. Rabbi Azriel Hildesheimer (1820-1899) was a leading Torah scholar in his days. Disciple of the author of Aruch LaNer and Rabbi Isaac Braneis of Hamburg, served as Rabbi of Eisenstadt (Northern Hungary) from 1851 to 1869 and established a yeshiva, the first of its kind, instituting the “Torah im Derech Eretz” method in which secular subjects were taught in addition to Torah studies. In 1869, he was appointed Av Beit Din of Berlin where he established the Rabbinical Seminary and led Orthodox Jewry in Germany. Rabbi Binyamin Ze’ev Wolf Austerlitz (died Kislev 1868), was the Ra’avad of the Eisenstadt Beit Din, father-in-law of Rabbi Aharon Fisher, disciple of the Chatam Sofer and grandfather of Rabbi Shlomo Fisher, Av Beit Din of Carlsberg. Leaf, approximately 51 cm. Written on both sides. Fair condition, tears to leaf folds, foxing.

Interesting letter, handwritten and signed by Rabbi Ya'akov HaLevi Lifshitz of Kovno. [Kovno, after the month of Adar 1888]. Before the Shmita year in 1889, a halachic solution arose to sell the agricultural land in Eretz Israel to non-Jews to enable Jewish farmers to continue working their land during the Shemita year. In Adar 1898, Rabbi Yitzchak Elchanan Spektor, at that time a leading rabbi and Torah authority, signed a letter brought to him endorsing the solution. Also signed are Rabbi Yisrael Yehoshua of Kutna (author of Yeshuot Malko), Rabbi Shmuel Mohliver of Bialistok and Rabbi Shmuel Zanvil Klapfish, Rabbi in Warsaw. This letter sparked a polemic and opposition from the rabbis of the Yishuv HaYashan in Jerusalem and from other rabbis in Europe. Throughout the following Shemita years, the polemic arose time after time, with those who permit the heter relying also on the ruling of Rabbi Yitzchak Elchanan. R' Ya'akov Lifhshitz, renowned assistant and secretary of Rabbi Yitzchak Elchanan was among the fiercest opponents to the Chovevei Zion movement which promoted the heter to benefit the farmers of the new settlements in Eretz Israel. This is a long, unknown letter which illuminate the position and actions adopted by Rabbi Lifshitz in this polemic. The letter is without an addressee, at the top the word "Continuation" is written, but at the end it is signed by Lifshitz: "Ya'akov HaLevi Lifshitz". [It was a well-known method to send an initial letter without identifying the writer in case the content will fall into unwelcome hands and then the writer would send another letter with his signature]. The letter deals with Lifshitz's activities opposing the Chovevei Zion movement and especially against the wealthy Aharon Yehoshua Shapira of Bialistok (son-in-law of Rabbi Hillel Bishke of Kėdainiai) who financially supported Chovevei Zion. Towards the end of the letter, Rabbi Lifshitz explicitly refers to his involvement in the "heter mechira" polemic and he relates that he made fervent attempts to prevent Rabbi Yitzchak Elchanan from signing the letter with the heter (see quote in Hebrew description). Afterward, Rabbi Lifshitz praises the call which was printed opposing the heter (apparently referring to the proclamation of Jerusalem rabbis) and he concludes: “This is that which I have said that only by a committee will the matter be upheld”. Leaf written on both sides, 11X13 cm. Good condition.